A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officer was sentenced to three months in prison and fined RM3,000 or another three months' jail for cheating a police officer of RM20,000.

Kenny Chua Boon Meng, 35, who is based at Putrajaya MACC office pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amran Jantan of deceiving Insp Muhamad Fazal Sulaiman, 36, to hand over the money.

He admitted cheating Muhamad Fazal of the money in regard to a non-existent file purportedly opened by MACC on the victim.

Chua committed the offence inside a Proton Persona car outside the Bandar Baru Bangi Fire and Rescue Station premises on April 7 at 12.55pm.

He was charged under Section 415 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 417 of the same code which carries a maximum five years' jail or a fine, or both, on conviction.

Earlier, MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohd Heikal Ismail urged the court to impose a heavy sentence in view of Kenny's position as an MACC officer whose responsibility was to eliminate corruption in the country.

In mitigation, Chua who was unrepresented, asked the court to consider that he was a first offender and had contributed to the nation through his eight years' service in MACC, which included assisting to complete various cases.

Earlier, the accused had pleaded not guilty to the original charge of accepting a RM20,000 bribe from Muhamad Fazal over the same matter.

- Bernama